Bhubaneswar: Odisha authorities have stepped up preparedness in low-lying areas along the Mahanadi basin as rising water levels are expected to increase discharge at Mundali barrage near Cuttack.
Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout said the discharge at Mundali reached around 6 lakh cusec by Wednesday noon and could rise to nearly 6.5-6.7 lakh cusec by evening. The flow may cause minor flooding in low-lying and agricultural areas of Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Puri, though no major damage to villages is expected.
The Hirakud reservoir has opened 19 sluice gates amid increased inflow, with the reservoir level at around 623 feet against its full level of 630 feet.
Meanwhile, water entered the premises of Maa Charchika Temple in Badamba, with arrangements being made to shift the deity to safety.
According to the Special Relief Commissioner’s office, over 13.50 lakh people across 1,895 villages in 10 districts have been affected by rain and floods between August 13 and 26.
The IMD has forecast more rainfall, with yellow and orange warnings issued for several districts from August 27 to September 2. Rescue and relief operations are continuing, with 57 teams deployed across affected areas.